Peanut drying and roasting apparatus



A Dec. 1 l '1925. 1,563,661

H. D. SAWKINS PEANUT DRYING AND RoAsTING APPARATUS Filed May 20, 1925 4 sheets-sheet 1 Dec. 1, 1925. 1,563,661

H. D. SAWKINS PEANUT DRYING AND ROASTING APPARATUS Filed May 20, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 H, D. sAwKlNs PEANUT DRYING AND ROASTING' APPARATUS Decc 1I 1925- Filed May 20. 1925 v 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Dec. 1,1925. r 1,563,661

H. D. SAWKINS PEANUT DRYING AND ROASTING APPARATUS Filed May` 20, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 f" retards the roasting process.

Patented Dec. 1, 1925.

PATENT OFFICE.

nunrrnsron n. sawrrrns. or BALTIMORE, MARYLAND] PEANUT DRYING ANI) ROASTING- APPARATUS.

Application filed May '20, 1925. Serial No. 31.487.k

To all whom t may conce/Mi.'

Be it known that I, HUNTINGTON D. SAW- KrNs, a citizen of the United States of lAmerica, residing in the city of Baltimore, State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Peanut Drying and Roasting Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

In the production of salt-ed peanuts which are salted in they shell, the peanuts with the shell on are first impregnated with brine and then dried and roasted. Y

The present invention relates to an apparatus for drying and roasting peanuts which have been thus impregnated and removed from the brine, the method of treatment in and with the brine being described in my patent entitled Method of salting peanuts, No. 1,505,605, granted August 19, 1924.

When the peanuts are first removed from the salting or impregnating apparatus, they still carry a considerable amount of liquid which cannot be separated from them. otherwise than by evaporation, and the mass of peanuts still carries some liquid brine which if evaporated in the roaster produces a coating of salt on the inside of the roaster and otherwise interferes with and prolonge or Y Therefore it is found desirable to first put the peanuts through an agitating and drying process whereby all external traces of brine are removed, and then to roast them, and as the Y crs, the capacity of the drier being equal` to the total capacity of the roasting units, the waste heat from the two roasters being led into contact with the single drier. In

the drying and roasting operations the wet peanuts from the brine, the brine being preferably partially removed therefrom, are placed in the dryingcylinder, rotated and agitated while receiving the waste heat from the roasters. After being thus treated for a period of forty minutes, the agitation is discontinued and the dried peanuts are led down into the roasters, half being led into one roaster and half into the otherroaster. The drying unit is then again filled and the roasting and drying operation are continued simultaneously, the roasting operation consisting mainly in heating and agitating the peanuts, and leading off the dust which is formed during this process. Considerable quantities of salt are also deposited on the walls of the drier. These are removed by beating the drier at intervals.

The apparatus in the preferred form as illustrated, consists of a rotary drying cylinder and two rotary roasting cylinders suitably enclosed to prevent the loss of heat, the drying cylinder being above the roasting cylinders, which in the form shown are spaced apart, the drying cylinder being shown as directly over the space between the two roasting cylinders. All three cylinders are equipped with suitable agitating means to give uniform treatment of the peanuts, and the roasting cylinders are heated by gas burners or other suitable means. The apparatus alsov includes a motor with connections, including drive shaft, gears, and means for connecting and disconnecting each individual cylinder from the driving means.

In the accompanying drawing I have illustrated a drying and roasting apparatus embodying my invention in the preferred form. r

In the drawing- Figure l is a front elevation of the apparatus.

Figur-e 2 is a correspon-ding rear elevation of the same.

Figure 3 is a side elevation taken from the left in Figure l.

Figure 4 is a plan of the rear end broken away, the feature mainly illustrated being the shafts and gearings which rotate the cylnace 4. The apparatus also includes burners 5, G, 7 and 8, shown as of the well-known Bunsen type, and suitable shafting and gearing 9 to rotate the cylinders.

In the -lorm of the invention shown, the cylinders 1, 2 and 3 are parallel, the roasting cylinders 2 and 3 being together of capacity equal to the drier cylinder 1 and the cylinders 2 and 3 being lower down than the cylinder' l, and spaced apart, the cylinder 1 being, as shown, and pii'e'l'erably, over the space between the cylinders 2 'and 3.

dhe casing .lis, as showin ot a cross-seo tion resembling an inverted T, the roasting cylinders Q and il being in the ends ot' the arms ot' the T and the drier cylinder 1 being in the central leg ol the T. The burners (S, and Si are eloiigated and parallel to the axes ol the cylinders, the burners andy (i being beneath the cylinder '3, one on each side ot the centre. and the burners T, S beneath the cylinder il and, likewise spaced von each side ot the centre.

As shown, gas is supplied by way ot' a pipe l() controlled by a valve 11 and having branch pipes 12 leading to each oli the .respective burners, each ot' said burners being controlled by a valve 13 in the particular branch pipe which i'eeds the burner.

The cylinders are preferably each in the Ytorni ot' an elongated tubular member mounted on its respective central shatt, the drier cylinder sha'tt being Iindicated by reference character 15, and the roaster cylinder shafts each by reference character 1G. These tubular members are closed at the rear by an end plate or vall 17 inthe drier rcylinder and 18 in each ot the roaster cylinders, the Ytront end oil each cylinder being mounted on a spider 19 in the drier cylinder and 2O in the roaster cylinders, the spider being secured at the centre to the correspondingl shaft. The liront end ot each cylinder is closed by the 'front wall 14 ofthe 'furnace with which it is in close contact., and the `turnacc is provided in the preferred form as shown with circular openings Q1 at the iront and rear opposite and corresponding to the respective cylinders .1, 2 and 3, and slightly larger than the cylinders, each respective opening being covered by a circular cover plate Q2 a y the front, covering the tront of the drier cylinder' and 23 at the rear registering with the rear ot the drier cylinder. 'lhere are also circular plates 24, 24 at thel liront, covering the respective roasting cylinder openings 21 at the front and 25 at the rear, registering with the respective roasting` cylinders at the rear. These plates 22, Q53. 24, are held in place by nuts and bolts 4S, 49 engaging ears 47, and the plates carry the bearings 2G for the respective ends oit thesha'lts 15 and 16, 16. Each of the shal'ts 10 is provided inside its respective cylinder with oppositely disposed helical or other suitable paddles 2T, 28, 29, 30, and the cylinders are provided on their internal faces with projectingl helical or other inclined ribs or beaters 31, 32, the paddles or ribs or beaters being provided and de vised to give motion to the product as it is dried and roasted, to prevent sticking and burning and to give uniformity ot treatment.

The cover plate 22 at the front is provided with a hopper' opening or feed member 34A near the top centre into which the wet salted peanuts are fed in the first instance, and this 'liront plate is also provided with a downwardly disposed outlet passage 35 in the term o'lf a tan-shaped projection which radiates downwardly Vfrom the bearing member 26 at the centre, 'from the bottom of which projection roaster feed pipes 3G, 36 lead downward and laterally to the liront plates 24 ot the roaster cylinders, which front plates are provided with projections 37 to which the pipes 3G are connected and which projections enclose suitable feed openings in the Afront plates 24. The openings 38 to the pipes 3G are closed alternately by a damper 5l!) pivoted at 40 intermediately of the two openings and actuated by a handle 41 on the opposite side o't the pivot to the damperI` and the passage is further controlled by an arcuate valve member 42 pivotally mounted on the shaft 16 ol" the drier cylinder and controlled by a handle 43 integral with the valve member and ipro jecting therefrom on the opposite side ol: the shaft, which handler 43 may be clamped by means oli a thunib-screw 44 sliding in an arcuate slot 45 in a projecting portion 4o of the cover plate As stated, the cover plates 22, L3, 24, 25 are held in position by ears 47 projectingradially trom the plates and engaged by nuts and bolts 4S, the bolt-s being Y'passed through or seated in the wall ot the YFurnace. The bolts 48 may, il desired, be seated in elongated slots 49 in the furnace wall and the cover plates may he adjusted to align the bearings and 'for other purposes by means of set screws 50 passed through ears 51 on each side oit the plates, the set-screws engagingsuitablc blocks or brackets 52 secured to the furnace wall.

The projections v37 at the trout of the roasters in addition to their connection to the -ifeed pipe 36 which lead by way of these projections into the respective roaster cylwith still another vent pipe 56 leading out olE the furnace just over the driercylinder llt) at the front, all of which pipes 54 and 56 are connected to a single riser or stack 57 shown in Figuie near the centre and which may be provided with a fan 58 driven by a belt from a motor 59,A or in any` suitable manner from any convenient source of power.v The front cover plates 24 of the roasters are also provided with delivery openings 60 which may be'connected to delivery pipes 61 F igure 3, leading douf'nwardly and forwardly, so as to drop the product in any suitable receptacle, the pipes 61 being preferably closed by delivery doors 62. The cylinders 2-2 are preferably roofed by baflles 103, 'see Fig. 2, which prevent the access of moisture from the drier cylinder to the contents of the Vroasting cylinders.

The rotary action of the cylinders and beaters may be produced in any suitable manner, the illustrated mechanism being as follows: The shafts and gears 9 and the motor 65 are shown at the rear but are preferably controlled from the front as hereinafter described, the details to be described and illustrated not heilig regarded as essential to the invention. The motor 65 drives a worm-wheel 66 by way of a worm 67 on the motor shaft. The worin-wheel 66 is mounted on and secured to a` transverse shaft 68 which carries a bevelled gear 69 also secured to the shaft and meshing with a bevelled gear 7() on an upright shaft 71 mounted in bearings 72 which may be secured to the rear of the furnace. This upright shaft 71v carries above the bearing a second bevelled gear 73 which meshes with a bevelled gear 74 on the shaft 15 which carries the drier cylinder. The transverse horizontal shaft 68 which is mounted iny bearings 75 on the frame carries at each end secured thereto a bevelled gear 77 each of which bevelled gears meshes with a bevelled gear 78, one on each of theshafts 16, each of which shafts 16 carries one of the respective roasting cylinders 2, 3. 1

By examination of Figure'ri it will be noted that in the .form illustrated the counection between the bevelled gears 74 and 78, and the respective cylinder shafts 15 and 16 which they drive, is not permanent but is controlled by clutch mechanism: in other words, the hubs 79 of the gears V74 and the hubs 8O of the gears 78` each formsone member of an ordinary jaw clutch, the same being provided with clutch teeth 82, the gear being free to rotate relatively to the shaft 15 or 16 on which it is mounted and being prevented from sliding ofi1V the shaft by a suitable pin 83` or other means. The other with clutch teeth 85 co-operating Vwith the teeth 82 and such clutch member 84 comprising the-sliding clutch member is keyed to its respective shaft by means of a key 8.6, so that each fof the clutch members 846s mounted to slide on the shaft and connected. thereto to rotate therewith by the key86. l/Vhen any member 84 is slid forwardly away from the furnace, bringing the teeth in'to mesh with the corresponding teeth on the gear, the corresponding gear 74 and 78 is caused to yrotate with the shaft, or more properly tlieshaft is caused to rotatewith the gear, and when the members 84 are slid inthe opposite direction, i. e., toward the furnace, the gears are disconnected and may rotate without actuating the corresponding shafts 15 and 16, and the corresponding cylinder's 1, 2, 3. The clutch members are controlled in the forni of the invention shown, each by jaw levers 88 connected to the sliding member 84, which member 84 may be in tivo halves as shown, having ears 89 and connected by bolts 90. 4The jaw levers 88 as shown are each in 'the forinof a bell crank' pivoted to a bracket on the furnace at 91 and having a forwardly projecting arm 92 connected by a connecting rod 93 to a similar bell crank 94 pivoted on the furnace at 95, which bell cranlrhas its other arm 96 connected to a` rod 97 which leadsforwardly to the front of 'the furnace, the same being controlled at the forward end by a hand lever 98 pivoted at itsbottom end at 99 to the furnace, see Figure 1, and connectedintermediately to the aforementioned rod 97. This mechanism is repeated for the three cylinders andneed'not be individually described. i

lIn the operation of the apparatus the peanuts 'impregnated with brine removed therefrom and suitably drained and separated from the brine by air blasts, are poured in at the hopper 34 and thus introduced into the drier' cylinder 1 which is rotated bythe mechanism described and heated by waste heat from the roasters 2 and 3, which if the operation 'of the plant is just beginning, may or may not contain peanuts being roasted. The peanuts then' supplied are given about forty minutes of Ytreatment in the drier or any suitable period found to `be satisfactory, the drier being rotated to agitato the peanuts and the hot air from the roasters being drawn through the drier Y which is perforated, the draft being created by the fan 58 or in any suitable manner, the natural draft due to the heat of the furnace being utilized if desired. In the course of drying the water given out, by the peanuts is evaporated and a considerable amount of salt deposited in the drier. When the drying operation is completed, the valve 42 at Vthe end is opened andthe cylinders 2 and 3 clutch member 84 of each clutch is provided the roasting and drying operation continued.

A considerable amount of dust is given oil`1 by the peanuts during` roasting. The dust trom the roasters is removed at intervals or continually by way ot the pipes 5llwhich may be controlled by dainpers 100. From time to time the operation is discontinued and the salt removed from the drier which is preferably of thin perforated sheet iron, b y beating on the metal with mallets or in any suitable manner, and it it is found necessary, the cylinder may be removed tor this purpose by taking oit the front or rear cover plates 2l, 22 or both. During roasting as in drying the peanuts are agitated by the action ot' tihe paddles and vanes or ribs.

The apparatus described greatly increases the eiiiciency ot the operation ot roasting` peanuts which are salted by inipre'gnating them when in the shell with brine, as the peanuts, even when treated to the best` advantage in the brine tank and blown tree ot the brine and fully drained, carry a greatl deal ot moisture and salt, which inter'leres with the action ol: the roasters by lilling` -them with moisture and causing the accumulation of salt therein, which moisture and salt are much more easily handled in the perforated drier where the moisture is drained and largely eliminated by evaporation by the waste heat from the roasters. The manner ot treatment described conserves time and heat, and gives increased capacity of the plant and a product ot the best quality.

l have thus described specilically and in detail a` single embodiment ot my invention in order that the nature and operation of the same may be clearly understood; however, the specic terms herein are used descript-ively rather than in a limiting sense, the scope ot the inventionbeing defined in theclaims.

lVhat I claim and desire to secure by Letters Pat-ent is:

l. rflic combination in an apparatus for drying and roasting peanuts impregnated with brine in the shell, comprising a drying cylinder with means for draining` the same, a roasting cylinder below the drying cylinder, means below the roasting cylinder for heating the roasting cylinder, means for agitating the contents ot the cylinder, the cylinders being oitset to prevent access ot water `from the upper to the lower cylinder.

2. yl`he combination in an apparatus for drying and roasting peanuts impregnated with brine in t-he shell, con'iprising a perforated rotary drying cylinder, a plurality ot rot-ating roasting cylinders below the dry-V ing cylinder, means below the roasting cylinder for heating the roasting cylinders, and furnace walls enclosing the cylinders, the drying cylinder being heated by the waste heat from the roasting cylinders.

3. The combination in an apparatus for drying and roasting peanuts impregnated with brine in the shell, comprising a` perforated rotary drying cylinder, a, plurality ol rotating roasting cylinders below the drying cyliiider, means below the roasting cylin der tor heating the roasting cylinders, and turnace walls enclosii'igl the cylinders, the drying cylinder being iheated by the waste heat trom the roasting cylinders, the capacity ot the two roasting` cylinders combined being equal to that ot' the single drying cylinder.

l. The combination in an aliparatus tor drying and roasting peanuts in'iliregnated with brine in the shell, comprising a perforated rotary drying cylinder, a plurality ot rotating roasting cylinders below the drying cylinder, means tor heating the roasting cylinders, the drying cylinder being heated by the waste heat .trom the roasting cylinder', turnace walls enclosing the cylinders, a stack and a tan therein, and dust pipes leading troni the various cylinders to the stack.

5. The combination in an apparatus 'for drying and roastingI peanuts impregnated with brine in the shell comprising a drying cylinder and a roasting cylinder, means tor heating the roasting cylinder, the drying` cyl inder being above the roasting cylinder and heated by the waste heat therefrom, a turnace structure enclosing the cylinders having front and rear wa ls opposite the ends ot the cylinders, the 'lront end ot each cylinder being` in close contact with the Yfront wall ot the furnace and being closed therel'iy, a filler opening entering the liront wall olf the tue nace and leading to the drier cylinder'` and a passage leading trom tbc drier cylinder to and through the portion et' the lront wall ot the furnace opposite the roasting cylinder. and means tor controlling and opening and closing said latter passage. and means t'or rotating the cylinders.

G. The combination in an apparatus for drying and roasting peanuts impregnated with brine in the shell comprising a drying cylinder, a roasting cylinder below the drying` cylinder, furnace walls enclosing the cylinders, means supplying hait beneath the roasting cylinder, means for rotating thi` cylinders, each said cylinder comprising a tubular member open at the front and closed by Contact with the trent of the furnace, tlnk furnace having openings at the front direct.-

lv o a nosite each c linder each a little lai-cer 5 5 than the cross-section' ot thc corresponding cylinder, a cover plate tor each openingmeans securing the same to the furnace, the cover plate corresponding to thc drier cyiinder having a filler opening at the top and a passage at the bottoni leading downiinrdly toward-the roasting` cylinder, the cover plate opposite the roastingl cylinder' having an inlet opening at the top, means connecting` the opening with said passage and a delivery ill) lll)

Citi

opening at the bottom of the roasting cylinder plate.

y'I'. The combination in an apparatus for drying and roasting peanuts impregnated with brine in the shell, comprising a drying cylinder having drainage openings, a plurality of roasting cylinders below the drying cylinder, each of one half the capacity of the drying cylinder, means for rotating the cylinders, heating means beneath the roasting cylinders, the drying cylinder being heated from the roasting cylinder, furnace walls enclosing the cylinders, each of said cylinders comprising a tubular member open at tne front, the front ends of the cylinders being closed by contact with the furnace wall, the furnace walls having at the front a hopper opening leading to the drier cylinder and a discharge opening leading from the drier cylinder, the roasting cylinders likewise having each a feed opening connected to the said discharge opening, the front wall having a discharge opening opposite the lower portion of the end of each roaster cylinder.

S. The combination in an apparatus for drying and roasting peanuts impregnated with brine in the shell, comprising a drying cylinder having drainage openings, a plurality of roasting cylinders below the drying cylinder, heating means for the same, a shaft carrying each said cylinders, means for rotating the cylinders, heating means beneath the roasting cylinders, furnace walls enclosing the cylinders, each of said cylinders comprising a tubular member opening at. the front, the front ends of the cylinders being closed by contact with the furnace wall, the furnace wall having at the front a hopper opening leading to the drier cylinder aud a discharge opening leading from the drier cylinder, the roasting cylinders likewise having each a feed opening connected to the said discharge opening, and the front wall likewise having a discharge opening opposite the lower portion of the end of cach roaster cylinder, the front wall of the furnace at the point engaged by the end of cach said cylinder also having a vent opening, a stack with draft-creating means and pipes leading from each said vent opening to the stack.

9. The combination in an apparatus for drying and roasting peanuts impregnated with brine in the shell, comprising a drying cylinder' having drainage openings, a plurality of roasting cylinders below the drying cylinder, a shaft carrying each said cylinders, means for rotating the cylinders, heat ing means beneath the roasting cylinders, walls enclosing the cylinders, each of said cylinders comprising a tubular member open at the front, the front ends of the cylinders being closed by contact with thel wall, the walls having an opening opposite the end of each cylinder and a cover plate for each said opening, each of said cover plates also having avent opening, a stack and vent pipes leading from each vent opening to the stack.

l0. The combination in an apparatus for drying and roasting peanuts impregnated with brine in the shell, comprising a drying cylinder having drainage openings, a plulality of roasting cylinders below the drying cylinder, a shaft carrying each said cylin ders, means for rotating the cylinders, heating means beneath the roasting cylin` ders, walls enclosing the cylinders, each of said cylinders comprising a tubular member open at the front, the front ends of the cylinders being closed by contact with the wall, the walls having an opening opposite the end of each cylinder and a cover plate for each said opening, a shaft for each said cylinder, means for rotating the cylinders, cover plates at the rear corresponding to tbe front cover plates, a bearing for each said shaft in the corresponding cover plates, and means for adjusting the cover plates up and down to align the shafts, and means for controlling the rotation of the cylinders.

ll. The combination with an ,apparatus for drying and roasting peanuts impregnated with brine in the shell, comprising a drying cylinder, a roasting cylinder below the drying cylinder, means below the roasting cylinder for heating the roasting cylinder, means for agitating the contents of the cylinders and baiiies for preventing the access of moisture from the drying cylinder to the roasting cylinder, the drying cylinder being heated by the waste heat from the roasting cylinder.

Signed by me at Baltimore, Maryland, this 14th day of May, 1925.

HUNTINGTON D. SAVVKINS. 

